My Presentation:

Topic: Digital Games

1) Quotation 1: What is "video Games"?

2) Quotation 2: What are the types of "video Games"?

3) On this topic, I would focus on the aspect of first-person shooter video games. For example, Counter-strike and Half-Life.

In the first person shooter video games, you can be a soldier or a military operator to take the missions and learn how to deal with the situation you face.

4) Video games can be divided into 3 domains mainly.

Firstly, the game involves the concept of "play". Everyone plays games want to amuse themselves. Thus, games are entertainment. It is one of the general purposes of the games.

Secondly, another purpose of playing video games is that video-games can be one recruitment tool and military training to attract the young to join the military activity and fight for the country as a soldier. For example, American army practice using video games for training by using “point-and-shoot” devices that is known as Fire Arms Training Simulators (FATS). Undoubtedly, political elements are often involved in the process of playing video games.

Quotation 3:

Apart from that, video games can also be an educational tool. When we play the video games, we would know the background and content of the battles of the games, we can have the historical knowledge.

Quotation 4:

5) Case study:

I would like to choose Delta Force - Black Hawk Down as an example in my case study. Delta Force - Black Hawk Down is a first-person shooter video-game. Therefore, this type of video games can most dramatically put the players into the role of the game. It is produced by NovaLogic on 24 March 2003 on Microsoft Windows. It is the 6th game of the Delta Force series.

6) Feature 1:

Interestingly, this game is based on the fact of Somali Civil War in 1993 to develop. In 1993, U.S. Special Operations Forces was to capture Aidid who leads the greatest threat to peace for them. However, Black Hawk helicopters is shot down by Somali warlords because of the wrong military signal. Then, the U.S Army had to take missions and rescue the remaining armies whether they are still alive or not during the gun battle although they experienced heavy casualties finally.

7) Feature 2:

Undoubtedly, this game can let you experience the missions that are similar to the battle I mentioned before. In the virtual world of the game, you can have 5 types of weapons. Here are the weapons you can use when you play the role of a soldier in the game. The point here is that all these weapons are used for the military in the reality. All these are in Classic mode and design for the military soldier to use.

For example:

8) Feature 3:

Moreover, you can mounted in Black Hawk helicopters and and on Military Vehicles to fight against Somali warlord by using these weapons. Exclusive combat tactics and scenarios provided by former Special Operations Soldiers. You will deal with different training such as sniping and marksmanship if you are selected to be an Operator. That means you are going to practice a tactical shooter technology and combat techniques in order to be a professional sniper.

9) Feature 4:
Every building can be entered and you can lurk around any corner. All the things can make the world totally believable.

10) The battle of Mogadishu in 1993 was depicted in the American drama war film, Black Hawk Down in 2001(28/12). And then this game was released by NovaLogic. The details are as follows.

For example, the scenes of American soldiers are killing by others would stimulate American audiences to have personal support of American soldiers and thus they may blindly supporting American military policy.

11) However,from the perspective of cultural indicators, there are some cultural beliefs and values can be found in video games.

Quotation 5:

12) Question:

13) My opinion:

14) References for books and websites:

15) Comments on books or articles:

}

}-Video games : a popular culture phenomenon:

     It’s just recording the general phenomenon for videogames.

}

}-Game on :the history and culture of videogames:

     This book shows a development of the videogames .

}

}-Computer games and instruction:

     This book is so boring as it just mentions the history of videogames.

}

}-Joystick soldiers: the politics of play in military video games:

     This book involves some philosophical concepts so it may be difficult for somebody who never study philosophy to read.

}

}-Videogames and education:

     It is a very interesting book which introduces different genres of videogames.

User Generated Digital Media

“Leave Brittany Alone”

a) How many viewers are estimated to have watched the you tube video?


41,907,074. Indeed, there are thousands upon thousands of people to have you tube video as an entertainment. Everyone can get this video easily on you tube if they want.

b) How would you rate the video?


Actually, I think this video is so funny as the person shows the most "truthful" face to us. There is a great facial expression on his face. He is crying and even screaming in order to share all the feelings he wants to let all people know. 

c) Is it of high quality in technical terms? Is it interesting aesthetically e.g. camera angles, use of light, the narrative, and so on?

It is not technical as no special manner is used for making this video. It seems that Chris Crocker was shot himself. Frontal camera angles, soft and ordinary lighting is not interesting aesthetically. 
But for the narrative, I think there is a distinctive style. The point here is that there is no completed storyline, only one character to have a reflection of his emotions in this you tube video, so it is different from other you tube videos. To some extents, I would think that it is quite interesting but not aesthetic.

d) Does it raise interesting socio-cultural issues? 

Yes, it does. Everyone want to share their opinion on some particular issues, they can make a video and post it on you tube, then all people can watch that. There is no boundary between the viewer and the maker when sharing a video online. You can have some comments on the video. Others see your comments, they may respond to that and thus there is also an interaction between the viewers. You tube makes people open-minded enough as it can help exchange the opinions that are from different countries. It definitely changes the soical culture in the world.

e) Do you think deserved the attention that it received from the Internet community?

It is deserved for us to pay attention to this video. Even it is only for Chris Crocker to express his own ideas and feelings online, it still can let us know what happens in the world, what the people are thinking or what news they are interested in. They all are the reflections of our society and show the socio-cultural changes, we should not overlook it.

f) Briefly describe the video
This video is going to appeal to the public for leaving brittany Spears alone. As I mentioned above, Chris Crocker pretends to be a girl and talks about brittany Spears's performance. He is so pathetic when he shares his feelings on this particular event.

g) Find at least one interesting video, based on Crocker’s or Bus Uncle, and upload it to your blog

This video had a storyline to react what Chris Crocker done in the "Leave Brittany Alone". In this video, Brittany's head was bombed. It is quite funny and amusing.

h) Report some positive and negative comments about this new ability for computer users to make and widely distribute and respond to online films (such as the above three videos). (eg see Leadbeater, We-think, xviii;  Burgess and Green, Youtube, Cambridge: Polity, 2009, 10…, 21-30).  


According to the above reading, there are some positive and negative bout this new ability for computer users to make and widely distribute and respond to online films.

For the positive comments, there are the growth of knowledge as everyone can enjoy the information on the Internet freely. People just need to search the particular topic online, then they can get lots of information they want. It is more easier to get the information definitely.


In addition, people make a musical video and then upload it on Youtube, they may become the most popular person on the Internet if their video can draw the attention of the public, for example. As we know, Youtube is a way to "broadcast yourself" into fame and fortune. Therefore, Youtube can give a chance to the computer users to show their talents or initiatives for the public. Finally, they may win a recording contract and become an "ordinary" celebrity.

On the other hand, there are some cultural rearrangements as people are liberating to comment on others' uploading on the Internet. Sometimes, it shows that people are disputing for the conflict of the cultural or political beliefs and values. When people have some comments on others' opinion, others can respond to the comments also, then the complex relations between the producers of the online films and viewers will emerge.

Moreover, we may be doubtful about the information that is correct or not. One of the reason for that is "the uncertainties around various forms of expertise and authority". It could involves some political and cultural problems. For instance, when the hegemony arises, it will get the attention of the public and lose the democratic. Finally, it might be biased the readers whether the information is authentic or not.

These all are the positive and negative comments about this new ability for computer users to make and widely distribute and respond to online films.